Core for automobile tires



Jan. 17,-1928.

c. E. LAWSON cons FOR AUTOMOBILE TIRES Filed 001:. 11. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor aszer .ZLZ mason,

flttoruey Jan. 17, 1928.

C. E. LAWSON cont: FOR AUTOMOBILE TIRES Filed Oct. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

cAsrnn n. LAWSON, or UTIGA, onro.

CORE FOR AUTOMOBILE TIRES.

Application filed October 11, 1926. Serial No. 140,854.

The present invention relates to improvements 1n cores for use in the building and curing of pneumatic automobile tires.

At the presenttime, expansible air bags are employed for curing pneumatic tires after the same have been built. This operation is a costly one in that the expansible air bags are not durable and consequently cannot be used very long. Also by curing automobile tires in this manner. the operation of building and treating a tire necessitates independent operations or steps thus consummating a considerable length of time and labor.

One of the important objects of my invention is toprovide a means for eliminating the use of the oXpansible air bag in curing a tire and furthermore will reduce the steps in the operation of building and curing a tire to minimum.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a tire core ot'the 'above mentioned character which includes a plurality of segmental sections which are detachably secured together to form an annular core member, each section comprising an arcuate shaped shoe or crown portion of expansiblc material. which is adapted for disposition against the inner wall ofthe tread portion of the tire casing in the adjacent portions of the sidewalls. means being provided for effooting the expansion and contraction of each shoe in. a simple and efficient manner.

A still further object is to provide a core of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction. inexpensive, strong and durable. and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the nature of the invention will be understood and when taken in connection with the accom-- panying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the com"- plete core embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is afifragmentary detail perspective view of one of thesections, the core beshown expanded. i

Figure 3 is an end elevation of oneofthe sections showing the parts in their contracted position. I v

Figure 4 is asimilar View showing the core disposed within a mold.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 3 showing a modification of the shoeor crown portion.

lligure 6 is an end elevation of a further modification.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional View of the securing means for the segmental sections, and I Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail of a modificating of the contracting member.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred emhodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally my improved core. the same comprising a plurality oi segmental sections which are adapted to have their adjacent ends detachably secured together to provide an annular core as is clearly shown in Figure 1. The securing means for the segmental sections will .behereinafter more fully described.

Each of the aforementioned segmental sec tions comprisingan arcuate shaped shoe or crown portion 3 which is formed of sheet metal material. The longitudinal free edges of the crown or shoe 3 are disposed inwardly and terminate in rounded lips 41 as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The shoe or crown portion of each of the sections is adapted to be disposed adjacent the inner wall of the tread portion of the tire which to be built on the core,

vell as againsttheinner wall of the adjacent side portions.

Adapted for cooperation with the normally enpansible shoe or crown portion 3: is what 1 term as the adjusting spring member 5. The same is also formed ot sheet metal mate rial and is bent in substantially U-shaped formation! The arms of said U-shaped adjusting member are curved outwardly and thence inwardly and the upper ends thereof terminate in outwardly disposed curvedlips 6 which are adapted for engagement with the respective curved lips a of the shoe 3.

This construction is also shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3 ot the drawings. A reinforcing rib 7 is formed on the bottom of the aforementioned U-shaped adjusting memher 5.

"ill

The core further includes the provision or V of av single piece of sheet metal material which is bent longitudinally to provide the lltl tubular portion 9. The end portions of the piece of material comprising the member 8 are then disposed outwardly in parallel spaced relation to provide what I term as web portions Hi. The outer end portions of the webs are curred outwardly and thence inwardly to provide the jaws ll, the outer end portions of which on e the respective sides Oil the shoe 3 ol? ca ch 'tion. Suitable reinforcing rihsii 19 are 'lorined on the outer faces ol. the wchs 10.

its is clearly shown in l i rure 3 the rib 7 formed on the bottom :iuce ot the crown portion oil each ad iustinp; t iriuc; ineinhcr ii extends inwardly into a rd li elwccn the parallel spaced wells 10 thus causing the core to he normally contracted and. to permit the tire to he built on the core.

The scourino; ineuns tor hol the mental tious in properly us ,nhled reh tion to term an annular rare comprises a. pair ot curred metallic s ip designated by the nun'ierals 14- and 15 rci'iinectively. 'li'ho actionnt ends (it the sf'f fll'ltill'ill sections are provided with suitable notches shown at 16 which notches cooperate to form an opening. The Slllllllll is disposed on the inside o'l. the tuhi 1' portion 0 and is disposed over the re erino; notches formed in each pair oi a l out ends oi the sections. The strip Ilel is disposed on the outside of the tubular portion 5) over the lllEQtlfifl edges of the adjacent ends oi each ot the sections. These cooperatinc' strips are "formed with suitahle OllJQlllllQ'S which register with the aforen'ientioned notcl'ictt l6. and a. holt 1.? e3:- tends through the n erino o 'ieninpgs in the strips and as well, as though the notches 16. A nut 18 is threaded on the threaded end of the threaded end of the holt. ln this mannor the several sections are secured together in proper relation so that the core when asseinhled will not accidentally collapse.

ll ith the parts arranged as shown in Figure 1, the tire is built up on the core in the manor well known in the art. After such operatirai. the sectional mold 19 shownpjenorally in Figure 61- is disposed over the tire and the core prior to the curing operation. llhen pressure is applied on the sectional niold 19, the jaws l 1 will move inwardly thus causing): the ribs 7 to more. out of engagement from between the parallel disposed web 10 so that the core will he expanded and the parts there-oi will assume the position shown in Figure The shoe 3 u'illthen he can panded so as to cooperate with the sectional mold in properly curing the tire.

In this llltil'llltl, it will he unnecessary to remove the tire from the core which has been i31l'l} ')l(l \'((l for building the tire up and then employing an expansihlo or inflatable bag for the purpose oi? curing: the huilt up tire. The use (it my in'iproyed core will elinn inate the loss at considerable time and labor in the treatment of tires, and will also save considerable expense by the elimination of the inflatable air bag which is now principally used or the curing of pneumatic tires.

ln'l igure 5 ol the drawings, a modification is shown wherein the shoe 3 is formed with a web 20 and extendinglaterally 0n the outer edge of this circumfcrentially disposed web 20 is the arcuate shaped circumt'crentially extending strip 21. The jaws 11 have their free ends curved inwardly for dis position between the adjacent faces of the shoe 3 and the strip 20 as indicated at 22 in Figure 'lhe jaws are adapted for slidable nioyeinent over the side of the arcuate shaped shoe during the contraction and expansion of the core.

In Figure (3. a further modification is shown wherein the shoe 3 and the adjusting member 5 are displaced by the tubular memher which is formed from a single sheet oi material bent into substantially circular torn 1 ati on. disposed inwardly in parallel spaced relation to provide the dances :24. and a securing bolt 2 is disposed between these flanges. A web F36 extends out ardly from the crown portion oi the tubular member 23 and associ- :zted with the outer edge of this web is the elongated arcuate shaped strip 27. The inei'i'iljier 8 which'is associated with this form of the core is identical. with that shown in Figure and above described and therefore a detailed description thereof is thought unnecessary.

In Figure 8. the contracting member 8 is iterated of separate parts and the same comprises the tubular portion 28 having the parallel disposed free edge portion 29. The

curved arms 30 have their inner ends terminating in parallel disposed portions 31 which are disposed on the outside of the respective parallel portions 29.

' The simplicity of my core enables the same to he easily assembled and furthermore will at all times be positive and efficient in carryino' out the purposes for which it is designed. ills-oi the core may he adapted for ready assembly or disassembly and will not require the use of any number of complicated tools in gaining access to the several parts comprising the core.

lVhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to he understood that minor changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettors Patent is:

l. A core of the class described comprising a series of segmental sections, each section including an arcuate shaped head formed of expansible material, an expansible adjust- The free edges of this strip are ing member operatively connected with said head, means for securing said sections together, said means comprising a pair of inner and outer plates extending over the adjacent edges of each pair of sections, and a securing bolt extending through said plates and through the adjacent edges of the sections.

2. A core or the class described comprising a series of ring forming sections, each section including an arcuate shaped head formed from a single blank of 'expansible material, the "free edge portions of each head being disposed inwardly and terminating in curved lips, an adjusting member of substantially U-shaped design in cross section, the upper ends of the arms thereof being curved outwardly to provide lips adapted for cooperation with the aforementioned lips, and a member embracing the sides of the head and cooperating with the adjusting member to control the expansion and contraction of the core.

3. A tire core of the class described comprising a series of ring forming sections, each section including an arcuate shaped head formed from a single blank of expansibie metal, the free edge portions of each head being disposed inwardly and terminating in curved lips, an adjusting member of substantially U-shaped design in cross section, a rib formed on the bottom of said adjusting member, the upper ends of the arms of the U-shaped adjusting member being curved outwardly to provide lips adapted substantially U-shaped design in cross section, a rib formed on the bottom of said adj usting member, the upper ends of the arms of the U-shaped adjusting member being curved outwardly to provide lips adapted for cooperation with the aforementioned lips, contracting member embracing the sides of the head and cooperating with said rib on the adjusting member to control the expansion and contraction of the core, said contracting member being formed from a single piece of sheet metal material which is bent longitudinally to provide a tubular portion, the ends thereof being disposed laterally in parallel spaced relation to provide webs, the outer end portions of the webs being curved outwardly and thence inwardly to provide jaws which embrace the opposite sides of the arcuate shaped head, said rib being adapted for disposition between the webs.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

OASTER E. LAWSON. 

